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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was retired in August 2007. It is being provided by “Sew What’s Up,” which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: MAD14kt
Date: 05-05-2007, 03:09 PM (1 of 5)
I am in the process of looking to purchase a new serger and some machines have the lay in tension and some have the dial tension. What's the difference? Thanks :bolt:
"What is to give light must endure the burning"
User: MAD14kt
Member since: 12-21-2005
Total posts: 31
From: MartySews2
Date: 05-05-2007, 11:14 PM (2 of 5)
Sounds like the lay-in tension is automatically set and the dial tension requires a manual setting. I've always had auto tension with a manual overide so maybe I'm not the best judge of this. :bolt:
Marty
User: MartySews2
Member since: 05-03-2007
Total posts: 293
From: Tom Land
Date: 05-06-2007, 05:36 AM (3 of 5)
The "tension dial" or "wrap-around" tension is like sewing machines used to have. The "lay-in" tension looks nicer and is supposed to be easier to thread. Neither is really better than the other. However, I have found that if you are in the market for a lower priced serger the ones with "wrap-around" tensions tend to be better than the ones with "lay-in" tensions. It has nothing to do with the tensions. It seems that the better ones are more concerned with putting the expense into making a good machine than spending money on cosmetics. I am speaking only of the "low priced" sergers here. All of the upper end sergers have "lay-in" tensions these days but they could have just as well had "wrap-around". (With the exception of the ones with truely self setting tensions. It would be harder to make them work with the "wrap-around" tension design.
Have fun or don't do it, Tom
User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005
Total posts: 514
From: MAD14kt
Date: 05-07-2007, 12:25 AM (4 of 5)
:up: THANKS for your help! :bolt:
"What is to give light must endure the burning"
User: MAD14kt
Member since: 12-21-2005
Total posts: 31
From: Kylnne2
Date: 05-07-2007, 04:15 AM (5 of 5)
I have had both the lay in and the knob type tensions. I must say that I prefer the lay in tensions so much more than the knob type. The lay in is so much easier. Also the only thing that ever broke on my old Babylock serger was one of the tension knobs. It happend in a move to Montana. The knob was never fixed quite right for some reason or it just broke again and I used my beloved serger for a trade in. I have owned several sergers since and they have all been lay in threading.
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004
Total posts: 629
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